Special Announcement: Do you notice anything different about me?

When I’ve asked that question, the answer is pretty much the same each time;

“Well your breasts look huge. I mean, really huge”.

To which I reply, “Where have you been? They’ve always been huge”…

But I digress…

Can you see? 

No ignore my visible bra straps. There’s a Baby Candy in there!

Today (Friday!) I will be 32 weeks pregnant (8 Months). I am sure that the more observant of you (ie. Twitter followers) may have guessed but this is really, genuinely the first time I’ve felt ready to blog about it. 

Why have I kept quiet for so long? Well, I am really not one for weekly bump updates (although I’ve enjoyed reading other peoples) as pregnancy is a very private thing to me, and also I am very, very superstitious and I am not one to assume that everything will be ok until the little one is born.  

Once the baby is born safe and well, I will of course, shout it from the rooftops!

Also, everyone keeps telling me that they can barely tell – the above picture accentuates the bump, but in my normal day to day wear, with a loose jumper I look like I could’ve eaten too many kebabs. Plus I’ve not gone puffy in the face or anything, and up until 30 weeks I only put on 4lbs. (The last 2 weeks, however, is another story!). 

Ok, so what else do I need to mention from the last few months? Can I finally fill out one of those pregnancy quiz things?!

Pregnancy Symptoms

Are different for everyone. I have had every symptom you can imagine, but they come and go in a week. I like to think that it’s because the baby wants me to experience new things. So this includes:

Sickness & Nausea

Itchy Skin

Aching gums

Carpal Tunnel Symdrome

Backache

Leg Swelling

Cramps

Sore Boobs

Heartburn

Dizziness

Headaches

Inability to breathe….

And some other unmentionable ones. 

Other than this Baby Candy has been a really nice baby to carry, he or she hasn’t given me much grief considering the sheer amount of things I’ve had to do this year (although he/she is currently practising Judo in there – I think it’s payback for behaving so much earlier on). 

Everyone is different – I personally have found just getting on with it helps – I always felt better once I was in work doing stuff then at the weekends when I moped about in bed feeling ill. 

Weight Gain

Minimal until the last 2 weeks. Just 4lbs but I have been indulgent recently and had crisps and McDonalds when I fancied it. It’s not too bad as most of the time I just crave fruit – during the first 12 weeks this is all I ate and my teeth ached from the acid from the oranges. 

My cravings have been: Elderflower cordial, citrus fruits, strawberries and cream, vine leaves, McDonalds Apple Pie, lipton ice tea, salt and vinegar Discos.

Maternity Clothes

Essentials for me were maternity tights (most of them are rubbish, always rolling down as I walked, go for Marks & Spencers ones, no messing. They stay up).  Topshop is my favourite place for denim and maternity leggings, ASOS ones are really bad for sticking to cat hair and anything jersey tends to stretch out to fit a bump anyway!  

Those Freedom stretch bras are ok for at home wear for growing boobs but realistically if you have large chi-chis, they won’t do much. A wireless bra is more comfortable. Once again I haven’t bought tons of bras and things as I don’t know how the sizing will go in the future!

Skin

Has been very sensitive – I am using Avene which is just a god send and some MAC cream. I want to try some Caudalie next as they have a whitening range which is safe for pregnant women (without retinol or vitamin A). 

I have got loads of pregnancy skincare type things and oils for my belly – I will review these at some point. So far no stretch marks which is amazing as the women in my family are very prone to them and hyperpigmentation in pregnancy. 

Sleep

Getting worse and worse – that’s all you need to know! 

I am working for another 5 weeks so – wish me luck. I am already exhausted, and the house is no where near ready and there’s lots of other things going on. I wish I said I was leaving earlier now so I could get things done! 

Missing Anything?

I’ve been drinking decaf tea and coffee, which doesn’t quite have a kick to it and have moved to 7up for my fizzy as it’s caffeine free.  I haven’t had any frozen yoghurs or yo-fros (which is tragic as they’ve opened up a new one near where I work), soft cheeses like feta, raw fish or smoked fish etc. since January. Once I’ve given birth I want a Sashimi platter with a wedge of feta cheese!

Gender

We didn’t find out which is tradition in my family. I had a wobble at 27 weeks because there are some amazing baby sales out there but everything is so gender specific! But we stuck to our guns – there are very little true surprises left in life so we decided this should be one of them.

Baby Shower

No, someone tried to organise a get together but I am seriously too superstitious to celebrate when the baby isn’t even here yet – personal preference of course! In Chinese culture you celebrate the baby when it gets to 1 month old with a party so that is what we’ll be doing. 

Exercise

I stated Pregnancy Yoga a few weeks ago at the Buddhist centre which is pricer than the local venues but it’s amazing. I am really not one for exercise classes, and I despised Bikram Yoga but I absolutely love Pregnancy Yoga.  They also bring in some meditation and relaxation at the end of the class and it really helps me clear my mind, especially as there is so much going on. 

Best Moments so Far:

The scans – always the scans, they’re amazing and I know the san pictures seem to irritate the hell out of some people but when it’s yours, seriously, it’s just the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen! Especially at the start when you think your body is playing tricks on you and you aren’t really pregnant! 

Also finding the heartbeat for the first time using a home doppler – we couldn’t find it at all then as soon as it hit 12 weeks, it was there clear as a bell. Feeling the first movements is amazing too especially that definitive kick, the one you can distinguish from a fart building up…

That is is really! Baby Candy has been a really good passenger and I think I’ll miss being pregnant with him or her! 

It all feels quite surreal as time has passed so quickly since we first found out and although I can’t wait to meet him/her I also am very aware that I have tons to do so if they could hold on until the actual due date…I’d be much obliged  :)  

If anyone has any useful mama tips let me know – we haven’t picked a buggy yet, or a cot, and we haven’t packed a hospital bag either. I figured when I finally start my maternity leave I can actually start to get stuff done. Just a few more weeks of madness until then……

Happy Friday!